VA Funding crunch

[Guest guest]

The Republicans of Ohio bring us VA Outpatient Clinics that leave our elderly

Veterans behind, BUT did nothing to stop the closing of Brecksville, Ohio VA

Hospital

http://www.house.gov/sherrodbrown/BrecksVA21304.html.

 

Meanwhile Veterans in Portland, Oregon begin feeling how much Congress " Supports

America's Veterans. "

 

Bobby Hanafin

Veterans for Change in 2004

 

Portland VA Budget Crunch Cancels Surgeries

 

By Larry Scott

 

In the last few weeks the Portland, Oregon VA hospital has been sending a letter

to veterans informing them that their non- " life-or-limb " surgery has been

cancelled or postponed. The Portland VA facility, with a satellite campus in

Vancouver, Washington, serves veterans in Oregon, southwest Washington and parts

of Northern California.

 

It all boils down to dollars, or lack of them. The Portland VA, like every VA

facility, is caught in a funding crisis with no end in sight. Funding for the VA

has increased every year, Internet myths aside. But the dollars have not kept up

with the number of veterans seeking health care. While VA funding has increased

about 50 percent in the last eight years, the number of veterans applying for

benefits has increased nearly 150 percent in the same time frame.

 

Who are these veterans? There are two major groups. The first is veterans who,

because of a sagging economy, are now unemployed or under-employed, have no

health care benefits, have never used the VA system before, and are now applying

for VA benefits for the first time. The second is veterans on Medicare who have

never used the VA for health care, but find the savings offered by the VA system

necessary to maintain a decent standard of living. Simple math shows that the $7

VA co-pay for prescriptions can be a great savings compared to Medicare

prescription costs. One veteran interviewed for this article stated he is saving

over $400 a month because he no longer uses Medicare for his prescriptions.

 

Patricia Forsyth, Public Affairs Officer for the Portland, Oregon VA hospital,

cites " a dramatic increase in the number of veterans " who now seek health care

as the reason surgeries are being cancelled or postponed. " Some examples of

surgeries that might be postponed are arthroscopies (diagnostic or treatment),

total joint replacements and hernia repairs, " she said.

 

Ms. Forsyth could not give exact figures as to how many veterans are having

surgeries postponed or cancelled, but stressed that no surgeries for

service-connected conditions are being affected. It is important to note that

there is no such thing as elective surgery at the VA. Every surgery has been

scheduled by a medical doctor who has ascertained that the veteran has a

debilitating condition that can only be remedied by a surgical procedure.

 

Ms. Forsyth cannot anticipate when the cancelled or postponed surgeries might be

rescheduled other than to say it would be as soon as possible. When asked for an

estimate as to what time that would be, Ms. Forsyth said, " I would guess until

spring [2005]. " It is a difficult situation, as 2004 monies have thinned to the

point where the Portland VA cannot keep its operating rooms up and running.

Currently there is no 2005 budget and everyone is holding their breath, hoping

for the best.

 

A document leaked from the White House indicated a $910 million cut in the 2006

VA budget (although the administration has backed off on this number).

 

Author's View

 

Earlier this year the VA announced findings for CARES (Capital Asset Realignment

for Enhanced Service), with plans to build new facilities and programs. At the

same time, three VA hospitals were closed. Does the good news outweigh the bad

news? In a May 2004 article posted on the VFW website, then-VFW National

Commander Edward S. Banas, Sr. supported the CARES program, stating, " The VFW

fully understands that the closing or consolidation of some facilities may

inconvenience some veterans, but the VA has offered reassurances that no veteran

will be denied or have their health care delayed during the transition. " Mr.

Banas must be very disappointed, as are the veterans served by the Portland VA

who have been " denied " needed surgery or been told there will be a " delay "

before a medically necessary procedure can be performed.

 

The real problem is under-funding of the VA. While the VA could not have been

expected to anticipate this " dramatic increase " in patients, and it goes begging

for proper funding every year, Congress sits idly by and lets this problem grow

geometrically. This problem could be solved once and for all with full and

mandatory funding for VA health care.

 

Don't let your VA facility be the next Portland, the next victim of

under-funding.

http://www.house.gov/sherrodbrown/BrecksVA21304.html

http://www.house.gov/sherrodbrown/BrecksVA5604.html

http://www.clevelandpress.com/clevelandnewsjune2004.htm

http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/print.ssf?/mtlogs/cleve_plaindealer/archives/pr\

int015023.html

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-05-06-va-system_x.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/10/28/veterans.hospitals.ap/

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/05/07/veterans.hospitals.ap/

http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/veterans/health.html

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/local/6460373.htm+

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1082205040931\

40.xml

http://www.fingerhutforsenate.com/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=gmKVLhPdE & b=8108 & c\

ontent_id={702A2DF6-B32A-48AC-9719-4017465BA0A8}

http://www.sunnews.com/news/2004/part1/0513/SVA.htm

http://www.afa.org/magazine/Jan2004/0104va.asp

 

WILL THE DAYTON VA MEDICAL CENTER BECOME THE NEXT UNDERFUNDED PORTLAND VA OR

EVEN THE NEXT " CLOSED " BRECKSVILLE? ELECT REPRESENTATIVES WHO STAND BY AND " DO

NOTHING " BUT EMPHASIZE NEW CONSTRUCTION AT THE COST OF PATIENT SERVICE HAVE A

HIDDEN AGENDA AND IT'S NOT " SUPPORTING VETERANS. " CORPORATIONS BUILD AND

CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS. WHILE VETERANS WAIT FOR SERVICE AND THE

" PROMISED " BUILDINGS TO BE BUILT.

 

 

Register to vote. Vote your conscience for the candidates who you feel will

properly fund the VA.

 

Let your friends and neighbors know we need their help with more than just

words.

 

Write your local newspaper about your concerns. Call, write or email your

elected representatives (and those running for office), and let them know

millions of veterans will hold them accountable for their votes.

 

Demand a vote on pending legislation instead of letting it fall victim to

partisan brawling because we must have full and mandatory funding for VA health

care.

 

Call me an optimist, because I am. I know we can change this frightening

situation. With one simple piece of legislation the VA could be funded properly.

 

We did it for a war! We can do it for our veterans who have fought the war.

 

About the Author

 

Larry Scott (former E-5) served four-plus years in the U.S. Army with overseas

tours as a Broadcast Journalist at AFKN HQ, Seoul, Korea and AFN Lajes Field,

The Azores, Portugal and a stateside tour as a Broadcast Journalism Instructor

at the Defense Information School (DINFOS). Larry was decorated four times

including the Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He was

awarded DOD's First Place Thomas Jefferson Award for Excellence in Journalism.

After the Army, Larry went back to radio news, working in Indianapolis as a News

Anchor on WIFE Radio and then in New York City as a News Anchor on WNBC Radio.

He receives VA compensation for a service-connected disability and uses the

Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington VA facilities for healthcare. Today,

Larry resides in Southwest Washington and operates the veteran's help website

YourVABenefits.org. To contact Larry Scott email larry.

 

 

 

 

http://pets.care2.com/

 

" The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. " --

Plato

" Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing

health care to all Americans is socialism. " -- anon